Monday, December 30, 2013

POLL: Favorite Movie of 2013

If you'll check out the sidebar, there's a poll going on until January 6th, 2014.  Please pick your favorite movie of 2013, choosing between: Despicable Me 2, Frozen, and The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.

Difficulty in Motivation

Some things are hard to do.  Some things are easy to do.

But all things are impossible to do if you can't even get yourself motivated to start them.

The task stretches, long and arduous, before you, and it's all you can do to stay there looking at it instead of

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

It's Actually Okay

Have you ever done something?

Of course you have; you've done lots of things.

But I'm talking about something unbearably stupid.

You've probably done it.  Remember?  That time where

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Sometimes I Think Up a Good Post...

Or even a semi-good one.

As I walk about my room, doing whatever (probably actively avoiding the things I should be doing and/or planning to do them and/or finally doing them) I think up this amazing blog post.

It's funny, sarcastic, subtly witty--just the thing you want to

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

First Drafts

So have I ever told you about first drafts?  You probably know about them.  Basically, you transfer your ideas from your brain or your outline to your paper.  The point is to get those words on there.; later you'll revise and polish.  

Sometimes I am rather formal in my first drafts, but other times I'm really frustrated or annoyed or whatever so I just loosen up and have some fun.  

I thought I'd show you my most recent first draft.  I definitely had some fun with this one!  :P


Hi, I’m here to tell you about an epical character.  His name is Phileas Fogg, and he’s the main character in Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days.  Now, Mr.  Fogg is frankly pretty awesome and slightly/very reminiscent of Mr.  Spock.  I think they would have been friends.  Well, it would matter on whether or not Mr. Spock could play whist.  Phileas Fogg is honourable, brave, and completely imperturbable.  I don’t think I spelled that right but spell check is accepting it; it might be a different word than I meant but this is the first draft for a reason.  Bascially, Phileas Fogg is awesome; read on and I’ll tell you all about it.  

I’ll start with how honorable he is.  And he totally is; honorable, that is.  First off, I should tell you that he pays all his debts.  He’s a rich man, and whenever he contracts with someone to do something for him, he pays them.  Plus, whenever he feels that they’ve done an exceptionally good job, he pays them extra.  Called immediately to mind talking about all this is that elephant handler—he paid him to his job and then gave him the elephant as a bonus.  Which was pretty awesome of him.  And then, this lady person named Auoda came across his path (long story) and she was penniless and needed help so he took care of her every want and treated her like a lady even though it’s a big hurry to get around the world in only eighty days and pretty expensive too and idk I think he was pretty awesome here.  Lastly, he did a duel.  Now, let’s remember that he’s an Englishman and not Catholic so he does the duel thing.  Anyway, there was this guy and they ticked each other off and eventually they did a duel and Fogg didn’t chicken out even though the guy was really scary.  And he was in a hurry, but he said that even if he should have to come back to America to finish his engagement he would.  So yes, Phileas Fogg is pretty darn honorable.  

And brave.  Now we get to the Auoda part.  He mouinted a daring night raid against creepy evil people who were trying to burn her alive so that was interesting but he went to save her and at one point he was ready to just rush in and grab her out.  His friends held him back because that would have been certain death, but it’s the thought that counts, right?  Anyway that was pretty awesome and another time, while in America, he went off leading a contingent of soldiers to rescue three guys, one of whom was his servant, Passepartout, from a band of Indians who had captured them so that was interesting too.  And then there was the boat thing.  He randomly hopped on a boat and just kinda went.  Even though it was really dangerous he just went through and big storm and it was really scary but he didn’t stop at all and also in another boat he basically stripped it apart and that was scary too but it might have been the same boat but anyway he was really brave.  He risked life and limb to win his debt but shhh if we analyze it too much it ruins the story bye bye now.  

Okay now lets talk about how imterturbable this guy is.  Nothing can shake him.  NOTHING.  Let me explain.  He’s basically risking his entire fortune on whether or not he can actually get around the world in eighty days.  This means each obstacle could be catastrophic.  Detained in jail?  Okay, he’ll make it up later on.  Super rough storm holding the ship back?  Whatevs.  I’ll just play whist and read.  I don’t even care, bro.  Detained in jail with no chance of ever making up the time again?  Okay then.  I may punch you for being a jerk and an idiot but that’s about it.  I’m going home; prepare by tea and toast thnx.  

So basically Phileas Fogg was interesting and totally awesome.  Nothing would throw him ever, he was really brave and he was honorable besides.  He was an awesome character, a gentleman definitely and also an eccentric but all around cool.  Phileas Fogg, everybody.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

SO IT'S JULY

Stupid summer colds.

On the upside, the newest Hobbit production video blog thingy came out! :D

And as an update on The Silmarillion, it is a very depressing book indeed.  I got attached to this character, Denethor.  (Primarily because of the novelty of there being two Denethors but why exactly I got attached to him doesn't matter because I got attached and that's the point.)

Anyhoo.  This particular Denethor is an Elf, the son of Lenwë.  And he died.  He died two pages, TWO FREAKIN' PAGES after he was introduced.


The Elves he ruled over were so devastated at his passing (he was killed in battle) that they, as a people, never fought in battle again nor had another king.



And that brings an end to today's blog post.  

Instead of a quote, I shall leave you with an annoyed Bilbo.  



Thursday, June 27, 2013

lol what (with appropriate gifs)

So today I got the news that our schedule means we start school in two weeks.

...I haven't finished the essay *cough*thatIcompletedandwassentbackasincompletelet'snotpointtoomanyfingershere*cough* and we're starting school in two weeks.













Wednesday, June 26, 2013

I have the Hobbit on the mind....

So, The Hobbit, amiright?  A book written by J.R.R. Tolkien as part of his Middle-Earth mythos, The Hobbit has delighted generations, and is currently a trilogy of movies based off this fabulous are being made, directed by Peter Jackson.

So, you probably have already seen the trailer video for the Desolation of Smaug, the second in the movie trilogy, which is slated to premier in the U.S.A. December 13th, 2013.  (So excited gah) If you haven't, here it is.

But something that made my life even more than the trailer was the sequel to the trailer.

Let me explain.  A YouTube group, Happy Hobbit, made a reaction video to their watching of the trailer.  (By the way, Happy Hobbit's videos are amazing; definitely check them out if you have the time.)  Anyhoo, back to the story.  So, Peter Jackson, the Peter Jackson, saw their reaction video and posted it to his Facebook.  And not only that, but he showed the video to the cast--Lee Pace (Thranduil), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), and Evangeline Lily (Tauriel)--and had their reaction filmed.  And then he posted the reaction video to the reaction video to his Facebook.  AND THAT VIDEO MAKES MY LIFE OKAY.  Every time I watch it I'm in tears, with laughter, and awesomeness, and, well, a bit of embarrassment, to be honest.  It's not me or anything in the video, but it's a fangirl reaction, and it's weird to think that the people who play the characters I fangirl about on a daily basis witnessed it.

But despite that, AWESOME OKAY.

*ahem*

Also, apparently Empire Magazine did a spread on the upcoming Hobbit movie (I want that issue...) AND THERE ARE REALLY AWESOME PICTURES.  REALLY AWESOME.




Promo pics for the win.  

Welp, I'm going to wrap this up.  Quote time!

"You seek that which would bestow upon you the right to rule--the quest to reclaim a homeland...and slay a dragon."
-Thranduil, The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug  (movie)

Monday, June 10, 2013

:D and D:

Hello there again!

(Hi Kruvo.  :P)

Welp, my school's done for the year.  :D

Except for the Roe v. Wade essay that got sent back because it wasn't clear because stuff.  So major editing.  D:

Karen Gillan is going to be in Marvel's upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy!  She's going to be a villain, along with Lee Pace.  :D :D :D

Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who. D': D': D':

I drew a comic based off all the news that had Whovians everywhere in a tangled, sobbing mass on the floor, crying simultaneously tears of joy and sorrow.  I am now going to subject you to it.  I got 15 notes on it I am so proud of myself.  :D

MATT SMITH IS LEAVING DOCTOR WHO.  D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D':

KAREN GILLAN AND MARVEL AND LEE PACE AND VILLAINS.  :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

MAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT.  D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D': D':

I went to a homeschooling conference and it was totally awesome. :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I CAN'T REALLY THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.  D:

I shall now leave you with the following small piece of wisdom:

Yb u when u could b ytterbium?
-pun invented by yours truly, the fabulous
-Spork


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Doughnuts, Asian Festivals, and the Doctor

That sums up my day.  My mom took my younger siblings--minus the eldest of my younger siblings, who was already at Tae Kwon Do--to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts (yum!) before we went on a shopping trip to get groceries and stuff for a trip we're taking down to visit friends.  I'll get to see Staples for the first time in almost two years I'm so incredibly excited.

And then we hurried to have lunch (we got Chick-Fil-A, which was also pretty awesome) and then had to leave to go to the Asian festival, where my brother was performing Tae Kwon Do and my dad was performing Hapkido (I hope I spelled that right) with other students from the martial arts studio they go to.  They showed forms and one-step-sparring-self-defense (my personal favorite) and also some exercises and board breaking and it was all-around awesome. Then we had some Asian-inspired-tacos (correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure tacos isn't an authentic Asian dish) (and are you sensing a recurring theme of food) that we got for free because the Grand Master's wife owned the place where we got the food, and they invited us.  Then two of my brothers and my dad went to eat at the actual restaurant instead of just the booth, while the middle brother and mom and the baby and I all went home.  

Then a friend called and we had fun and talked for like an hour and a half.  Then I went downstairs.  Then I came upstairs and that puts me here, with an English test to finish, and iPod to sync, stuff to draw, fanfic to write, and instead  listening to said iPod and writing a blog post.  Yup.  #LikeARowdyEmployee

Anyway, that picture that wasn't working?  The one I drew of the Doctor?  Well, I tried again, and here it is!

It looks like he's wearing eyeshadow ugh I'm sorry the pastels smudged.
Also I didn't use a reference so his nose is all wrong and his eyes and eyebrows are weird.

But other than the fact that they like to smudge when I don't want them to smudge, I've decided I really like pastels.  

Well, a parting quote for you, then I'm off to procrastinate.  (And I wonder why I never get anything done...)

There is the vicious circle that has been drawn for us by the huge mob which has become literate but not educated.  
-James Truslow Adams, "The Mucker Pose"

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

So...

It's been awhile, hasn't it?  *looks around* Is anyone still reading this?  *shrugs*  Well, if not, all I'm doing is talking to myself, which isn't anything new.

Anyway, I'm caught up on my school!  You heard that right.  Essays=done.  Very big very scary Roe v. Wade essay that ending up being like 15 pages=done.  Test and essay on A Man for All Seasons=done.

So what's up in my world?  Other than being done (YAY!).  Still can't wrap my mind about how I'm done.

A Man for All Seasons is really tremendously good by the way.  It's by Robert Bolt.  READ IT.

I now have a totally unrelated meme that Blue posted on the Lakehouse and I just thought it was really funny so I'm posting it here okay.


And there you are.  I hope it made you laugh.  

What else?  Hmmm...well, I'm reading The Song at the Scaffold for English, currently.  I haven't as of yet gotten started on the actually book, but from the prefaces and stuffs that Seton is making me read first it looks pretty okay.  

I've noticed Seton really likes to assign books on--or rather, that take place during--the French Revolution.  I mean, we have The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Song at the Scaffold, A Tale of Two Cities...I feel like there should be more.  Maybe that's all there is.  Huh.  But also because of the movie Les Miserables is big, so I was thinking about that too.  Even though it's not assigned by Seton.  

I feel like I'm babbling.  Am I babbling?  (Yes, Spork, you are babbling.)  Okay, then, should I stop babbling?  (Yes, Spork, you probably should.)  Well then!  Moving on.  

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and had a shopping spree. ^_^  It was very fun, and I got several supplies I've been wanting for a while.  And I tried pastels!  First time, ever.  I used oil pastels some when I was little, but pastels and oil pastels, as far as I can tell, are not the same thing.  I really like them.

...I tried to post my picture that I drew but I can't right now so sorry about that.  It wasn't the best (it was of the Eleventh Doctor) but considering I didn't use a reference and it was my first time with pastels I was pretty proud of myself.  Still am.  

Well, I should get back to reading.  So, peace out, good bye, etcetera.

You need a quote.

I should give a parting quote.  

Colan stood bare and weaponless;
Earl Harold as in pain,
Strove for smile, put hand to head,
Stumbled, and suddenly fell dead,
And the small white daisies all waxed red,
With blood out of his brain.  
-G.K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse
P.S.  Just for a heads up, the quote is from memory so it might not be entirely correct, and the punctuation almost certainly is not entirely correct.

P.P.S.  That's my mom's favorite stanza in the Ballad.  You're welcome, Mom.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Flip Side

Some people mistakenly believe that like a coin, everything has two sides to it.  However, this could not be farther from the truth.  In the geometric sense, for example, a point has no sides and a cube has six.  In the physical sense, only solids can have sides since liquids settle into the shape of their container and gasses expand or contract as is necessary to fill theirs.  Also, a coin technically has three sides: the head and the tail each making one, and the banding around the edge making a third.  In the figurative sense, few things have only two sides either.  In a war between two countries, for instance, one side is the first army, the second side is the second army, and a third side is the farmers and villagers who are stuck in the middle and want nothing more than for the war to end and the soldiers to leave them in peace.  Whether meant in the geometric, physical, or figurative sense, it is obvious that few, if any, things have exactly two sides.  

(Copyright me--the fabulous Spork--as of 2011, I think.  Maybe 2012.  But MINE.)
(I wrote this for an assignment for Seton Home Study School; the prompt was in the English 10 First Quarter Lesson Plans, I believe.)

Friday, March 22, 2013

Busy Busy Busy

Which is better...no title, or lame title?  (Vote in the poll at the sidebar! XD)

Anyway, like the title said, I am rather busy.  A couple weeks ago, my family and I left for a trip to Southern California to visit family and so my parents could attend a wedding.  It was extremely fun to be able to visit with my grandparents and other family members, including three of my cousins!  In addition to hanging out with family, I went to Universal Studios, the Getty Villa (Ancient Romans a;slkdjf;laskdjf;lksjflka;sldkfj), and the beach.  I can't remember which beach it was, but it was a beach.  Apparently my mom went camping there alot when she was little.  Anyway, I took some pictures of my trip and hopefully they'll be up soon in a separate post.

But that's not my main writing assignment write now.  (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Are you currently writhing with anticipation, wondering what great plots and characters I'm coming up with?

Probably not.

Which is okay, because you'd be right!  My main writing thing right now is not a creative writing fun book thingy, but an essay I'm writing for my American Government course.

An at-least-five-pages-essay.

An essay that I'm really worried about.  It's rather stressful.

Essentially, I'm analyzing the extremely controversial Roe v. Wade decision to see if the Court was correct in making its decision.  For the first time in my research report history, I am pointedly ignoring the Christian and moral aspects.  (And I'm just pointing out, "pointedly ignoring" is different than "not using because it is not relevant."  In some of my previous essays, I haven't "played the God card" because it simply wasn't relevant.)  I'm analyzing the Roe v. Wade case from a purely historical and legal point of view.  This is a new and stressful experience for me.

A bunch of questions pop into my mind.  I've never done this before, am I doing it right?  I can't come across as high-handed, my audience will be put on the defensive.  How do I avoid this?  Am I formulating my argument correctly?  How do I wade through all this legalese?  How do I point out the blatant errors in the Wade Decision (yes, I can think of at least one I found in the text alone, without consulting any outside sources) without coming across as sarcastic and condescending?

Etc., etc.

Best get back to it, then.

Thursday, February 21, 2013